An array of dots and dashes of color that spell CVAD in Morse Code
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Students and faculty gathered in a group in front of a large NSSC banner.
UNT CVAD students and faculty pause for a group photo at the NSSC, an annual national creative student competition and conference awarding scholarships and cash prizes since 2005.

UNT CVAD Students Earn Top Awards at 2026 National Student Show

The National Student Show and Conference 2026 welcomed more than 200 visual communications students, educators, and professionals to Dallas for “Connections” — an exploration of the unique journeys that define creative careers and a celebration of the relationships that make those careers possible.
 
Over three action-packed days, April 9–11, students from more than 25 college programs toured nine of the city’s finest studios and agencies, got feedback on their portfolios from 30 local pros, heard four keynote speakers share their stories and "eagerly drank from the proverbial firehose of inspiration, knowledge, networking and community," according to PRINT magazine.
 
This year’s student competition drew 351 entries — including design, advertising, UX, illustration, photography, and complete portfolios — from visual communication programs across the country. Of the 98 works selected for the exhibition, Dallas-based jurors Chase Kahn, Matt Johnson, Andria Kushan, Manny Rodriguez and Hosna Quraishi recognized 31 students with prizes and scholarships totaling over $13,000. Eight UNT CVAD students are among those recognized, underscoring the strength of CVAD’s Communication Design program and its continued impact on the national stage as a Top Design School.
 
Best of Senior Portfolios — Silver
Rebecca Dugan, 2026, B.F.A. in Communication Design: Graphic Design
 
Best of General Design—Posters
OrigamiUSA Poster Campaign
William Anderson
Christina Pearson Cross
Additional credit: Stephen Zhang, associate professor
 
Best of Interactive Design—Mobile App
Foundation
Wyatt Day, senior, B.F.A., Communication Design: Graphic Design
Sarah Petty, senior, B.F.A., Communication Design: Graphic Design
Additional credit: Erica Holeman, assistant professor
 
Best of Publication—Book Cover
"Frank Herbert's Dune"
Daniel DesCamp, senior, B.F.A., Communication Design: Graphic Design
Additional credit: Stephen Zhang, associate professor
 
Best of Publication—Editorial Spread or Feature Design
Judge’s Choice Award of Hosna Quraishi
Snap: Carnivorous Plants
Britten Cupitt, senior, B.F.A., Communication Design: Graphic Design
Additional credit: Whitney Holden, senior lecturer and director of the undergraduate graphic design program
 
Best of Publication—Annual Reports, Brochures and Catalogs
TEXNext Conference Recap Booklet
Emma Derr, senior, B.F.A., Communication Design: Graphic Design
Additional credit: Whitney Holden, senior lecturer and director of the undergraduate graphic design program
 
The National Student Show and Conference is a transformative experience and the largest dedicated student creative conference and competition. Now entering its 22nd season, the event is made possible by the Dallas Society of Visual Communications Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides financial aid through scholarships for high school and college students interested in taking the next steps toward a career in the visual arts.